A monthly Sunday night teen party at Club Azucar — formerly the Oasis — in Plainview was canceled this week because Jeffersontown police were concerned about a large teen gathering following the March 22 violence at Waterfront Park.

Party organizer Matt "DJ Phat Matt" Thieneman, said police pushed him to postpone or cancel the event, which was set to start at 9 p.m., and he ultimately agreed to shut it down.

Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders said his department's request had nothing to do with teenagers coming together for a party, he said. "We encourage them to come out here and enjoy themselves."

But Sanders said Sunday's party was just too close to the incidents, which resulted in as many as 80 teenagers damaging property through downtown Louisville and sending six people to the hospital. He said his department was watching social media and saw enough chatter concerning potential violence Sunday that it seemed best to cancel the gathering.

"We thought the timing was not right," he said. "We just don't want to see, because of the timing, anybody get excited and get hurt."

For this kind of party — which has been in the works for about a month — usually 150 to 200 teens show up, Thieneman said. In the 10 years he's been holding events at the 1506 Lakeshore Court location, there have never been any serious problems.

There have been a few, Sanders said, but "probably nothing more than we have at any social gathering spot."

Mass text messages, messages on social media and radio announcements went out to alert teens planning to attend the party Sunday to say it was canceled. The next teen party at Club Azucar is scheduled for May 2, the Friday before the Kentucky Derby.

Reporter Mark Boxley can be reached at (502) 582-4241 or on Twitter at @Boxleyland.